One Step at a Time (39 page)

‘The poor old Home Guard,’ he chided her, ‘they had to put up with a lot of jokes, didn’t they? But they could have found themselves in the front line if things had gone differently. You’re right, though, things must soon come to an end, but Hitler doesn’t seem to have got the message yet. Once the troops cross the Rhine, he’ll have to accept that he’s finished.’

‘Do you wish you were still out there?’

‘I would have liked to get to Germany and see if I could trace Ben, but, truthfully, I’m glad to be home for good.’

‘We’re glad you’re back, as well.’

Grace burst in and stopped their quiet conversation. ‘Mummy, it’s trying to snow!’

‘I know, darling, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough to settle. You won’t be able to play snowballs yet.’

‘Oh.’ Her disappointment showed, and then disappeared at once. ‘Granny’s knitting my new dolly another dress. She’s nearly finished it.’ She tore out again.

‘It was so good of her grandma to give her that lovely doll she’d had as a child. Grace is thrilled to bits with it, isn’t she?’

Howard gave Amy a speculative glance. ‘John’s parents are going to be upset when you leave and take Grace with you.’

‘I know.’ Amy sighed. ‘But we can’t live here all the time, Howard, however much they would like us to. Our home is with all of you in Chelsea, and when Ben comes back we can open the shop again. I can’t let Charles and Mildred keep us all the time, it wouldn’t be right, not for any of us. John has left us well provided for, but I want to keep that money for Grace, if I can. I very much want us to go back into business again.’

‘So do I.’ Howard ran his hand over Amy’s hair in a soothing gesture, his face serious. ‘I know this is painful for us, but we must face the fact that Ben might not be coming back.’

‘I like to include him in our plans, and until we
know what has really happened to him, in my mind it will still be the three of us.’

Howard nodded. ‘But if the worst happens, we can go ahead on our own, can’t we? We must face that possibility, Amy,’ he stressed again.

‘Of course.’ It hurt, but she knew he was right. Even if Ben had survived the years as a prisoner, what was going to happen when the Allies fought their way into Germany? It was a frightening thought.

‘Come on.’ Howard shrugged his shoulders as if trying to dislodge a heavy weight resting on them. ‘Let’s go and break the news that we’re leaving.’

Amy pulled a face. ‘I’m not looking forward to that, but I must move on with my life. John’s parents can always come and stay with us in Chelsea. Mrs Dalton will put them up for a few days, I’m sure.’

Her in-laws were in the kitchen with Howard’s parents, listening to Grace’s never-ending chatter, and Amy took a deep breath. This was one step she had known would come, but she had kept putting it off. It was only natural that John’s parents adored the daughter of the son they had lost, and she hated to hurt them by telling them that she was leaving, but it had to be done.

Howard draped a supporting arm around her shoulder. ‘I want to thank all of you for looking after me so well. It has helped my recovery to stay in this lovely house, and I’m grateful, but I’m now well enough to go back to Chelsea and start work again.’ He smiled down at Amy. ‘We’ve been talking, and
have decided that, as it’s unlikely the war will last much longer, we should be making plans to reopen our shop.’

‘I thought it wouldn’t be long before you decided to do that.’ His father looked pleased. ‘It’s time we went home, as well.’

‘When are you leaving?’

‘I thought tomorrow, Mum.’ He glanced questioningly at Amy. ‘Is that all right with you?’

‘Yes, that’s fine.’ She watched her in-laws’ faces pale and Mildred fight for control. She did a good job of it and managed to smile. ‘You’re taking Grace with you, of course.’

‘Yes, we’ve loved being here, but it’s time to return to our own home. You can come and visit whenever you want, and we’ll come here for the weekend often. You’ll see a lot of Grace, I promise.’

‘Well, in that case, I’d better finish this dress.’ She smiled at her granddaughter. ‘We can’t have your dolly getting cold on the train, can we, sweetheart?’

Grace shook her head, making her mass of hair swirl around her face. Then she swivelled round to face her mother. ‘Are we going home, Mummy? Have the nasty bombs stopped?’

‘We think so, darling, but if they start again we’ll come straight back here. Oscar will be so happy to see you.’ Amy added that because she could see that Grace was still worried about the flying bombs.

‘Are you staying for good, Uncle Howard?’

‘I am.’ He swept her up, making her squeal with
delight. ‘And I’m going to teach you to paint pots like your mother.’ He lifted her high and then put her back on the chair.

Amy knew he had done this to show everyone he was strong again.

Charles stood up. ‘We can’t have you going back to London on a freezing cold train. Ben’s car is still here, and there’s petrol in my car, so let’s siphon it off and then you can drive back.’

‘We can’t take your precious petrol,’ Amy protested.

‘I insist. Come on, Howard, give me a hand to get Ben’s car ready.’

Mildred held out her hand to little Grace. ‘We’ll start packing your things, shall we?’

36

‘What the hell’s going on, Major?’ Ben shivered in the cold, trying to shield Shorty from the biting wind whistling across the yard.

‘It looks like they’re going to move us. God, I hope I’m wrong.’

‘There aren’t any trucks.’ Ben caught hold of Shorty to support him as he had a coughing fit.

‘I’ll go and find out what they’re up to.’

The Major was back in five minutes, and stood in front of the assembled men. ‘The bastards are moving us. I want you to put on every bit of clothing you’ve got, bring blankets and anything that will keep you warm. We’ve got to walk to the next camp. You’ve got ten minutes only, then we must be ready to march.’

‘Oh, God, Ben,’ Shorty gasped. He trembled with fever. ‘I ain’t never going to survive a forced march.’

‘Yes you bloody well are!’ Ben growled in rage. ‘You’re going to make it if I have to carry you every step of the way.’

Charlie looked ready to commit murder when they got back to their hut. ‘The sods must be panicking, and that means our troops can’t be far away. Don’t you worry, Shorty, me and Ben will see you make it.’

‘Where we going, Major?’ Shorty croaked.

‘They won’t tell me, or why we’re being moved. Let’s hope it isn’t far. Quite a few of the men are in a poor state.’

‘Why don’t the buggers just leave us and run.’ Ben and Charlie wrapped Shorty in a blanket, pulling it over his head to protect him from the severe weather. Others who were sick were being helped in the same way. They had all been in this camp for a long time, and were determined that everyone was going to survive the march. With the Allies getting closer each day, they couldn’t die now. They wouldn’t!

With grim determination they lined up again, and marched out of the gates that had held them prisoner since 1940.

Ben lost all track of time, or where they were going. Day after day they walked with very little food; many stumbled and fell, but were quickly helped up by friends. Shorty was so ill, Ben carried him piggyback style until he was numb with fatigue. Charlie took a turn now and again to give him a rest, but he wasn’t nearly as strong as Ben. He had guts, though, and a burning hatred for the enemy that kept him going.

‘Here, Ben, drink this.’ Charlie handed him a mug of watery soup.

‘Give it to Shorty.’ Ben was too damned tired to lift his hand and take it.

‘He’s had some. Come on, mate, you’re exhausted. You’ve got to stay alive or the little man won’t stand a chance.’

Propping himself up and leaning his head against a wall, Ben took the soup and gulped it down. ‘Where the hell are we?’

‘In a church, but I’ve no idea where it is. It looks as if we’re staying here for the night, so we’d better try and get some sleep. There’s no knowing how far they’ll make us walk tomorrow.’

Fear gripped Ben’s empty stomach, knowing he was all but finished unless he could summon up some strength from somewhere. He leant over Shorty, wrapped like a baby in a blanket, and grimaced as pain shot through his aching back. ‘How’re you doing?’

‘I’m feeling better. You can’t keep this up, mate. I’ll walk tomorrow. The fever’s going.’

Ben studied his friend, and then shook his head, knowing Shorty wasn’t telling the truth. There was still a sheen of fever on his face and, more worryingly, his eyes had a rather wild look in them. ‘You still look terrible.’

‘Have you seen yourself lately?’ That attempt at levity sent him off into another bout of coughing.

‘None of us looks very pretty at the moment.’ Ben supported his friend until the coughing passed, then glanced around at the men: dirty, dishevelled and exhausted. If this went on much longer some were going to die. If it had been summer they might have stood more of a chance.

‘I mean it, Ben.’ Shorty caught his attention. ‘I’ll try and walk for a bit tomorrow.’

‘Shut up and go to sleep. You’ll walk when I think you’re fit enough.’

The Major came and crouched in front of them. ‘I’ve been talking to the priest and he told me the Germans are retreating right along the eastern front, and it’s rumoured that the Russians have crossed the German border. They’re on the run. We’ve got to survive this. The end is in sight.’

‘We will, Major,’ Charlie growled in fury. ‘Why didn’t they just leave us where we were?’

‘God knows.’ The officer stood up. ‘I asked one of the guards where they’re taking us, and he said to another camp.’

‘How far is it?’ Shorty rasped out. ‘This big man has been carrying me for days, and he’s had it, but without him I’d be dead now.’ He began to cough violently.

‘Will you shut up?’ Ben pulled the blanket around Shorty’s head. ‘I don’t give a damn how far we’ve still got to go, we’re all going to make it. Go to sleep.’

Exhausted, Shorty closed his eyes.

‘Can you get us a bit more food, Major?’ Charlie spoke softly and nodded towards their desperately ill companion.

‘I’ve asked the priest if he can help. He seems a reasonable man, and is going to try and get us some bread in the morning.’

‘Thanks. Anything will help.’ Ben pulled Shorty towards him, and with Charlie on the other side in
an effort to keep each other warm, his mind and body let go, surrendering to sleep.

Morning came, then night, then morning again, and Ben needed all his concentration just to put one foot in front of the other. Once he fell to his knees and was helped up by Charlie and one of the other men. He didn’t know who it was, or care. He was aware that many of them were in a very bad way now, and those a little stronger were doing all they could to help the weaker ones. Shorty was now delirious and shouting for his wife and kids. That made Ben grit his teeth and keep walking. If this man died then he was going to kill someone, even if it meant his own life was forfeit.

Suddenly, the column stopped and Charlie gasped, ‘A camp, Ben. We’ve reached a camp!’

With his head reeling and black spots dancing before his eyes, it was impossible for Ben to focus on anything. He felt Charlie grab hold of him and urge him on. They had become a team in their effort to save Shorty, and he was content to let Charlie take the lead and see they were all right.

‘There’s a lot of blokes already here, and they don’t look too bad.’ Charlie had a tight grip on him, moving him forward all the time.

As Ben walked through the gate he felt his face grow wet with tears of relief, aware that he wouldn’t have been able to keep going much longer. He had always been strong, but this had taken every ounce
of strength he had. Now he was utterly drained. Orders were being barked out in English, and men rushing round them…

‘Here, mate, let’s take him from you.’

As the burden was lifted from him he staggered. ‘He’s sick.’

‘We’ll look after him. We’ve got a medic here, and you look done in.’

‘Thank God!’ And Ben meant it. He had never been much of a churchgoer, but somehow, against all the odds, they were still alive. That was enough for the moment. Now his friend might stand a chance. The activity and conversations faded into the background, as if they were coming from a long way off.

‘Where we going to put them all, Captain?’

‘We’ll sort that out later. Get them inside at once! These poor buggers have had a rough time by the look of them.

‘Commandant!’ the officer yelled at the top of his voice, fury very clear. ‘We need hot food here, now! Or I’ll see you all shot when the Allies get here.’

Ben and Charlie followed the men carrying Shorty. They’d brought him this far, and no one was going to part them from him now.

The hut was warm after the icy wind blowing outside, but only when Shorty was tucked up in a bunk and being tended by the medic did Ben and Charlie allow themselves to be pushed into chairs.

‘Drink this.’ A young corporal gave them a mug of tea. ‘How long have you been on the road?’

They gulped the hot liquid down, both shaking their heads.

‘Didn’t keep count.’ Charlie drained his mug. ‘It seemed like a hell of a time, though.’

A kind of stew was also put in front of them; it wasn’t much, but a whole lot better than anything they’d had for some time, and there was also a small piece of bread each.

They made short work of it and, after checking that Shorty had also been fed, Ben leant his head on the table. If anyone tried to move him now, he would refuse. He was staying in this camp, wherever it was, until the war ended. If the Germans didn’t like it, then they would have to shoot him. He didn’t care. There was no way he was going through something like that again.

His muscles screamed in pain when he moved the next morning. He was on the floor, as were many others in the crowded hut, but he’d slept right through the night in total exhaustion.

Dragging himself up he went over to check on Shorty, relieved when his friend looked back at him, clear-eyed and rational.

‘Thanks, Ben, that’s another couple of pints I owe you when we get back home. In fact I owe you more than that. I’ll get my missus to make you a huge steak and kidney pudding.’ He licked his lips. ‘It’s her speciality.’